Coin controlled mechanism for dispensing machines



NES

Apfil 21, 1942. w. A. HARRIS COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHI Filed Sept. 9, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 1 April 21, 1942. w, W-,3 I 2,280,580

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93 ,103 26 7 16 66 I :3 0 o o 01 18 1oz z (1D G) I (I) I 1 15/ 17 April '21, 1942; w. A. HARRIS COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHIN Filed Sept. 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Shee t 3 Patented Apr. 21, 1942 COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES William A. Harris, Greenville, S. 0., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to The South Carolina National Bank of Charleston, Greenville, S. 0., as trustee Application September 9, 1938, Serial No. 229,184

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin-controlled mechanism for dispensing machines described and claimed in my co-pending application S. N. 229,183, filed September 9, 1938.

An object of the invention is the provision of a coin-controlled mechanism for a dispensing machine in which a coin is adapted to act upon a lever for releasing pawls that retain the dispensing elements against operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coin-controlled mechanism for dispensing machines in which a lever is moved to a locked position by the weight of a, coin of proper denomination while the lever in its movement to such locked position releases a retaining means for a dispensing element with means for releasing the lever from its locked position when one or more articles has been dispensed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a coin-controlled mechanism for dispensing machines in which a lever is caused to be oscillated by the weight of a coin inserted in the machine and of proper denomination with means for locking the lever in position, oscillation of the lever releasing a retaining means for the dispensing mechanism, the locking means for the lever being released after a predetermined number of articles have been dispensed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coin-controlled mechanism for dispensing machines in which a lever is adapted to be oscillated and locked in position when a coin of proper denomination is dropped into the usual slot for the purpose, the lever when being moved to locked position releasing a retaining means for the dispensing elements, a pivotally mounted finger being projected into the coin slot for preventing a second coin deposited by a second operator from moving into engagement with the oscillating lever before the first operator has obtained all of the articles to which he is entitled, the machine being so constructed that it is adapted to dispense the correct number of articles for the value of'the coin deposited in the proper slot when the dispensing mechanism has been oper- .ated theproper number of times, means being employed for releasing the lever and for moving the finger out of the slot to permit the second coin to fall upon the lever and move the same to locked position to permit the second operator to actuate the dispensing element a predetermined number of times to obtain not only the number of articles to which he is entitled for the coin deposited but to obtain also that number of articles which the first operator failed to get because the first operator had failed to operate the dispensing mechanism the required number of times.

This invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of the coin controlled dispensing machine with the housing removed showing the coin-controlled mechanism in an inoperative position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 showing the coin-controlled mechanism .in an operative position, Y Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical section line l4 of Figure -1, a V

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing the dispensing mechanism,

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 7,

Figure? is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 1-7. of Fig. 5,

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the locking latch for the coin-operated lever,

, Figure 9 is a side view in elevation with the taken along the housing removed showing a coin-controlled vbase member 19 is provided (Fig.v 9) and from this base member rise brackets or legs 20 and 2|.

The'bracket s or legs justmentioned form a support for the vending machine per se.

A rectangularly-shaped frame 22 is supported at the front by the legs or brackets l6 and 2|.

As shown in Fig. 1, on one side of the machine, there is mounted a unit 25 of conventional type which. acts as a fraud detecting mechanism to prevent'slugs, checks or other forms of metal the fraud detecting unit (Fig. 9) is a second fraud detecting unit which is connected in any approved manner to the vending machine. This unit may be of conventional type and since it forms no part of the present invention said unit likewise will not be particularly described. However, both of the units 25 and, 38 provide means for the reception of a coin after the coin has been inserted within a slot 3| or 32 (Fig. 10) formed in the casing 33 whereby the coins of proper denomination are directed into the chute 26 at one side of the machine or into a chute 34 at the opposite side of said machine. The housing 33 encloses the vending and coin-controlled mechanisms.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 it will be seen that a plurality of shafts 35 have their'forward ends provided with operating handles 36 and the shafts have bearings in the front bar 31 of the rectangular frame 22. Inwardly of the front bar 31 (Figs. 5 and 6) the shafts 35 are provided with depending fingers 39 which are adapted to engage a rock plate 48 which is secured by pins 40a to a shaft 41 having bearings in side bars 42 and 43 of the rectangular frame 22.

A dispensing bar 45 is secured to each shaft 35 and is adapted to cover a discharge opening 46 formed in a table 41 of the dispensing apparatus. When any one of the shafts 35 is rocked the dispensing bar 45 will be moved away from its respective opening in the table 41 to release an article.

Each of the shafts is provided with a disc 50 having a notch 5i which is adapted to be engaged by the free end of a gravity actuated pawl 52 pivoted at 53 on the front bar 31of the rectangular member 22. Each of the pawls is provided with a pin 54 which rests upon a releasing rod 55 disposed inwardly of the front bar 31 of the frame 22.

The releasing bar is provided with crank arms 56 and 51 at its opposite ends. To the inner ends of the cranks 56 and 51 (Fig. 5) are respectively connected axles 58 and 59 which have bearings in the side bars of the rectangular frame 22. An arm 60 extends from the axle 58 While an arm 6| extends from the axle 59.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and '7 it will be seen that a lever 62 is rigidly connected with the shaft 4| adjacent the crank 56 of the releasing rod 55. A link 63 connects the free end of the lever 62 with a lever 84 which is rigid with a shaft 85.

The last-mentioned shaft has bearings in the plate 21 and extends through said plate and beyond the outer face thereof. A lever 56 is secured to the shaft 65 upon the outer face of the plate 21 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A coil spring 61 is connected at one end to a link 68 which projects upwardly from the rock plate 40. The other end of the spring is connected to a pin 69 projecting from one side of the frame 22. This spring not only is placed under tension for causing said plate to be returned to normal inoperative position after plate 40 is rocked by one of the fingers 39 but for causing the lever 64 and likewise the lever 86 to be returned to their normal position when an operating handle 36 is released.

So far only those parts of the dispensing apparatus have been described and illustrated which are necessary to an understanding of the operation of the coin-controlled mechanism since the vending machine is completely illustrated and described in my co-pending application noted above.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be noted that a lever 10 is pivotally mounted on a pin 11 which is carried by the plate 21. The lever is maintained on the pin by means of an angularly-shaped bracket 12 which is secured at 13 to the plate 21. A weight 14 is secured to one end of the lever adjacent the pivot point 1|. The free end of the lever, as shown at 15, is located within the coin slot 26 and is adapted to be engaged by a coin when a coin passes through said slot for lowering the lever.

The lever is provided with a projection 16 which is adapted to engage the lever or arm 68 so that when the end 15 of the lever is lowered the arm will be raised for rocking the releasing rod 55.

A latch member 11 is pivotally mounted at 18 on the plate 21 and is provided with a shoulder 19 adapted to engage a pin projecting laterally from the lever 10 when the said lever is lowered sufflciently. Said latch member (Fig. 8) is provided with a finger 81 and a cam edge 19a at its lower end for purposes which will be presently explained.

A reciprocating rod 82is pivotally mounted at 83 on the upper end of the lever 66. A counterbalance 84 is secured to one end of the rod 82 adjacent the pivot pin 83. The free end 85 of said rod is located directly above the finger 8| on the latch 11 and is adapted to be engaged by said finger when the latch is rocked to the right in Fig. 1 for raising the free end of the rod 82. This rod is provided with a pawl 86 adapted to engage the teeth 81 of a ratchet wheel 88 that is rigidly secured to a shaft 89 carried by bearings in the plate 21-.

A coil spring 90 has one end connected to a pin 9| secured to the plate 21 (Figs. 3 and 4). The opposite end of the spring is connected to a pin 92 which is rigidly attached to the shaft 89 so that when the ratchet wheel 38 is revolved in one direction the spring will be wound up whereby when the wheel is released by a pawl presently to be described, said wheel will be returned to its normal inoperative position.

A pawl 93 is pivotally mounted at 94 and has a free end 95 supported by a lip 96 carried by the reciprocating rod 82 for raising the pawl out of engagement with the teeth 81 of the wheel 88 when said rod is elevated. A weight 81 is connected to the member 93 for aiding in raising the pawl out of engagement with the teeth.

The ratchet wheel is provided with a short pin 38 projecting laterally therefrom and this pin is adapted to strike the lower end of the latch member 11 and force the same to the right in Fig. 1 to free the pin 80 from the shoulder 19.

A second pin I00 also projects laterally from the wheel 88 and is adapted to engage an arm I01 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is pivoted on the shaft 89. When the pin I80 strikes the ar I01 the ratchet wheel 88 is held against further reverse rotation so that the pin 98 never contacts the arm. A pin I02 is carried by the arm and is adapted to have its inner end engageable with pockets I03 formed in the plate 21 for maintaining the arm in a stationary position. It will be noted that a dial represented by the series of numerals 1 to 7, inclusive is provided and one of the numerals is placed opposite each pocket I03 for indicating the number of articles to be dispensed by the vending machine as will be presently explained. The position of the arm IOI which limits the reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel 88 determines the number of articles that will be dispensed. When it is desired to adjust the arm I M to a new angular position, said arm is pulled outwardly from the plate 21 whereby the pin I02 carried by this arm is removed from its respective pocket in the plate. The arm may then be rotated and be placed in any one of the pockets I03 as indi cated by the dial numerals 1 to 7, inclusive.

An arm I05 is secured to a shaft III which is pivotally mounted in the upper ends of the brackets I! and I8. The free end of this arm is provided with a lip I06 adapted to project through a window II in the chute 26 and is in engagement with the rear wall of the chute to provide an obstruction in the chute and prevent coins from moving downwardly to engage the free end I of the lever I0 as will be presently explained. This arm is also provided with a finger I08 projecting laterally therefrom and towards the chute 26 and across the path of the free end I5 of the lever I0 so that when the lever is lowered sufiiciently for the pin 80 to be reoeived beneath the shoulder I9 the free end of the lever will press downwardly upon the finger I08 and move the arm I05 towards the plate 21 whereby the lip I06 will be moved through the Window I01 and obstruct the passage in the chute 26.

A finger I I0 is secured to a shaft I I I and projects inwardly towards the ratchet wheel 89 and across the path of the pin I00 so that when the ratchet wheel is revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 the pin I00 will raise the finger IIO, rock the arm I05 outwardly and thus move the lip I06 out of the window I0I when the ratchet wheel has been rotated step by step a predetermined number of degrees to dispense the last article to which the operator of the machine is entitled for the coin which he has placed in the slot 3I. It is to be noted that the lower end of the arm I05 is rigidly secured to the shaft III and is rocked when the shaft is rocked.

A stop H5 is located along the path of the movement of the oscillating arm I05 and is adapted to engage said arm when said arm is moved outwardly from the coin chute 26 to prevent said arm from moving the finger I00 out of the path of the free end of lever I0.

The operation of the coin-actuated mechanism just described is as follows: It is assumed that a nickel is to be placed in the slot 3I in order that five cigarettes or five other articles may be dispensed from the vending machine. If the nickel passes through the fraud detecting device 25 it will fall into the chute 26 and on to the free end 15 of the lever I0. When this happens the weight of the money will force the free end of said lever downwardly and the pin 80 will engage beneath the notch I9.

The lever 60 is raised by the member I6 when wardly. The raising of the lever 60 will cause rocking of the releasing bar 55 (Fig. 5) whereby said bar will be raised as will be the pins 54 and the pawls 52. The shafts 35 are then free to be operated by the handles 36.

The rocking of the handles in the proper direction will cause the fingers 39 to press downwardly upon the rock plate 40, thereby moving the rock plate downwardly and causing the levers 62 and 64 to be elevated (Fig. 7) whereby the lever 66 will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 so that the rod 82 will be shifted to the right as will be the pawl 06 which is now moved to an operative position with respect to a tooth of the wheel 88. Continued movement of the rod 82 will rotate the ratchet wheel one step and move the pin 90 nearer to the edge 19a of the latch 11.

Attention is directed to the fact that when plate 40 is rocked downwardly (Fig. 7), lever 62, link 63 and lever 64 are raised thereby rocking the shaft 65 and lever 66 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. When this operation occurs rod 82 will be reciprocated in the same direction.

The operation of the handles 36 will cause rocking of the dispensing bar so that a cigarette or other article will be discharged through the opening 46 and fall to a position where the operator may open the door I20 and obtain his purchase. When a'handle 36 is rocked to release an article the finger 39 depresses plate 40 attached to the shaft 4i, thereby rocking said shaft and likewise the levers 62 and 64 through the link 63. Since lever 64 is likewise connected to shaft 65 said lever will be rocked with the shaft 65.

Each time the handle 36 is released, the lever 66 is moved in the direction from that shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 so that the pawl 86 will move away from an engaged tooth of the wheel 68 and the wheel will remain stationary. The pawl 93, however, will drop into engagement with a preceding tooth for maintaining the wheel in position against the action of the spring 90 (Figs. 3 and 4) since the supporting lip 96 slides beneath the pawl without raising the pawl. The pawl 93 is only raised by the arm 82 when said arm has been raised after the ratchet wheel 08 has completed its pivotal rotation and has been moved step-by-step five times after releasing five articles. In other words, the pawl 93 is only raised to the position shown in Figure 1 when the lever I0 has been released by the latch member 11.

It will be" noted that the pin I02 is in the position indicated by the numeral 5 and the pin I00 on the wheel 88 will be carried through an arc until it reaches the numeral II of the dial when one of the handles 36 is rocked. The pin I00 therefore has moved away from the stop IOI. The pin 98 travels through the same are and has approached the latch 11. The pockets I03 have an angular spacing equal to the angular spacing of the teeth of the ratchet so that each time the pawl 93 drops into place behind a tooth 81 of the ratchet after said ratchet has been moved one step the pin I00 and likewise the pin 90 will be moved one step.

When the handle 36 is again rocked in the proper direction; the dispensing apparatus will release another article from the magazine (not shown) and when this handle is again released, the spring 6! will cause the lever 66 to be moved the free en'd of the lever I0 is moved down in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig.- 1, so that the pawl 86 will. again move. the. wheel 88 through apredetermined arc and the pins 98 and I will likewise be moved through the same arc. The pawl 93 at all times holds the wheel 88 against reverse rotation by the spring 90 until said pawl is released. The pawls 52 are maintained in an inoperative position by the rod 55 which is retained in a raised position by the arm 60 and the projection I6 on the outer end of the lever I0 when the free end of said lever has been lowered as shown in Figure 2 by a coin.

When the lever 36 is operated five times the pin 98 will be in a position to engage the edge 19a of the latch 11 whereby the latch will be moved to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 to release the pin 80 whereby the lever I0 will then rise automatically. At the same time the pin I00 has been moved up to a position where it will engage the finger IIO connected to the arm I (Fig. 3) so that the arm I05 will be rocked outwardly and the lip I06 will be moved out of the coin slot 26 to permit the free end I5 of the lever 10 to be engaged by a second coin which has been dropped into the slot 3| before the wheel 88 has been fully operated to release the required number of cigarettes. The coin has been resting on the lip I06 until it is released. The weights I4 and 04 respectively on the levers I0 and 82 are sufficient to cause the end 85 of the rod 82 to retain the finger I08 elevated and the arm I05 in an operative position after said levers have been released as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be appreciated that if the party who has placed a nickel in the slot 3| has operated a lever 36 five times that he will obtain all of the cigarettes to which he is entitled. Each time that a lever 36 is operated the wheel 88 is advanced one step and the spring 90 is progressively placed under tension. When the operator has moved a lever 36 five times the pin 98 will strike the latch member 11 and move it out of engagement with the pin 80 on the lever I0 and thus release said lever whereby the weighted end of the lever will raise the free end I5 of the lever upwardly into the coin chute 26. When the lever I0 is raised the bracket I will be elevated raising the finger I26 which will engage the reciprocating rod 82, thereby raising said rod and the pawl 93 as shown in Fig. 1 so that the wheel 88 will be released by the action of the spring 30 and the spring will reversely rotate the wheel 88 until the pin I00 on the wheel engages the arm IOI whence the wheel will be stopped.

If the second operator only dispensed five cigarettes he would leavethe wheel 88 in the same position which the former operator left it so that the next operator could obtain two cigarettes plus five more for his deposited coin.

As has been previously explained, the lever I0 is lowered when the weight of the coin forces the free end of the lever downwardly and the free end of the lever engages the finger I08 and forces the arm I05 inwardly towards the coin slot 26 until the free end of the lip I06 engages the rear wall of the said slot.

The purpose of the lip I06 is to prevent a second coin from passing through the slot without operating the lever I0 before all of the articles have been dispensed from the machine to which the operator was entitled. If, on the other hand, the operator should only rock the handles 36 three times and then leavethe machine the next party who operates the machine would obtain.

the other additional cigarettes which the.- previous operator left in the machine while the nickel which he had inserted in the slot 3| will have been held by the lip I06 in an inoperative position until the handle 36 had been rocked five times. In other words, the machine will always discharge the proper number of cigarettes when the proper amount of money has been placed in the slot 3I and if a previous operator failed to get all the articles to which he was entitled the next operator could obtain not only the number of articles to which he is entitled but also the several articles which the previous operator failed to dispense.

When the lever I0 is raised after the operation of the handles 36 the required number of times, the lever 60 is lowered by the tilting rearwardly of the member I6 (Fig. 1). When the lever 60 is lowered the releasing rod 55 (Fig. 5)

is likewise lowered as will be the pins 54 and the pawls 52. When these pawls are lowered they engage the shoulders 5| on the discs 50 connected to the shafts 35 so that further operation of the machine will be prevented.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 9 it will be seen that an auxiliary coin-operated mechanism is illustrated and is adapted to be used when only one article is to be dispensed and when a coin of proper denomination is inserted within the slot 32. The coin, as shown, passes downwardly through the chute 34 and engages the free end of a lever I30 pivoted at I3I on the rectangular frame 22. This lever is provided with a weight I32 which tends to maintain the free end I33 of said lever in an elevated position. As the lever I30 moves downwardly it crosses the path of a finger I34 connected to the extension SI of the crank 51 so that the lever will force the finger I34 downwardly, thereby rocking the shafts 58 and 59 and elevating the release rod which forces the pins 54 and likewise the pawls 52 upwardly so that one of the shafts 35 may be rocked by its connected handle 36. A mechanism for preventing operation of more than one handle is shown and described in my co-pending application, S. N. 229,183, filed September 9, 1938, for Dispensing apparatus.

The shaft M to which the rock plate 40 is connected is provided with a lever I35 adjacent the lever I30 so that when ahandle 38 is rocked the shaft III will move the lever I35 downwardly while the rock shaft is being depressed. At this time a bracket I36 rigidly connected to the lever I35 is likewise moved downwardly and a finger I31 formed on the upper free end of the bracket engages the lever I30 and moves said lever downwardly to a position in a chute I38 where the coin I39 can be discharged from the free end of the lever I30. When the handle 36 is released the spring 61 (Fig. 5) will return the rock plate 40, shaft 4| and the lever I35 to their normal inoperative positions so that the finger I31 will be moved upwardly away from the lever I30.

A guide MI is secured in a fixed position at I42 and is located in guiding relation with the lever I30 and an angular portion I43 on said guide will act as a stop to limit the upward movement of the lever. It will be noted that the free end I33 of the lever I30 is received within the lower end of the chute 34 and is movable downwardly within the chute I38. When a coin I39 reaches the lower end of the chute 34 and engages the free end I33 of the lever I30, the free end of said lever will be depressed and the coin will pass from the free end of the chute 34 into the chute l38 and will ride against the partition I45 in the chute I38 until the lever I30 is depressed sufiiciently by the coin to permit the coin to pass below the free lower end of the partition I45. The lever is only depressed to its lowermost position by the action of the finger I3'I when the lever I35 is depressed. In this construction the handles 35 may be only operated once to dispense a single article, when the parts are restored to an inoperative position and it will be necessary to insert a second coin in the slot 32 in order to obtain a second article.

A careful inspection of Figure 5 will show that each time one of the levers 36 is rocked the releasing rod 55 will be elevated when either the lever I0 or the lever I 30 is operated. In other words, when the lever I3 is moved downwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 the arm 60 which is connected to the member 55 is rocked upwardly by the member IS on the weighted end of the lever I3.

When the lever I30 at the opposite side of the machine is lowered by a cent it will depress the arm I34 which is connected to the releasing rod 55 and thus raise said rod. The rod 55 through the arms 56 and 51 has pivotal connections with the adjacent side walls of the frame through the axles 58 and 59 respectively. When the releasing rod 55 is raised the pins or fingers 54 are elevated thereby releasing the pawls 52 from the teeth of the disc 50 so that the handles 36 and likewise the shafts 35 are free to be rocked.

When a cent has been placed within the slot 32 it will fall into the chute 34 and place the lever I30 in a lowered position so that one of the levers 35 may be oscillated. As soon as the lever I30 is oscillated, however, a coin I39 will be discharged from the chute 34 and the lever I30 will be returned to its elevated position as will the depressed finger I34 connected by means of the parts GI, 59 and 51 with the releasing rod 55. The arm 60 at this time will likewise be raised and if a nickel has not been placed in the slot 3| only one article will be dispensed because the lever III will be in the elevated position shown in Figure 1 and the arm 60 may be raised by the coin controlled mechanism without having any efiect whatever on the lever I0.

If, on the other hand, a nickel had been placed in the slot 3| and a cent also has been placed in the proper slot 32 one of the levers 36 could only be operated five times because after the first operation of one of the levers the cent controlled mechanism would be moved to an inoperative position. On the other hand, the coin controlled mechanism at either side of the machine when operated will cause the member 55 to be raised to release the pawls from their operative connection with the members 50 so that the shafts 35 may be rocked.

I claim:

1. A coin-operated mechanism for a vendin machine provided with an operating element to release articles comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the frame, a chute directing a coin onto one end of said lever for lowering said end, means on the other end of the lever tending to raise the firstmentioned end of the lever, a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation on the frame, a pawl for retaining the wheel against rotation in one direction, a reciprocating rod having a pawl engaging the teeth of the wheel, operative connections between the rod and operating element for causing reciprocation of the rod and step-by-step rotation of'thewheel each time the operating element is actuated to release an article, a spring resisting rotation of the wheel, means on the lever engageable beneath the rod, and means on the rod engageable beneath the first-mentioned pawl so that when the lever is raised said firstmentioned pawl and rod will likewise be raised, a retaining means for holding first-mentioned end of the lever in lowered position, means looking the operating element against actuation, means operated by the lever when lowered'for causing release of said locking means, and means carried by the wheel for movingthe retaining means to an inoperative position so that the levers will be raised to release the pawls.

2. A coin-operated mechanism for a vending machine provided with an actuating element to release articles comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said frame, means on one end of the lever tending to raise the other end of the lever, means directing a coin onto second-mentioned end of the lever to cause lowering of said end of the lever, a retaining means for holding the lever in lowered position, a rotatable means, a spring resisting rotation of the rotatable means in one direction, a rod, oscillating means operatively connecting said rod with the actuating element, one end of the rod being pivotally connected with the oscillating means, means adapted to be engaged by the other end of the reciprocating rod when said rod is moved in one direction for causing rotation of the rotatable means in the same direction step-by-step, means holding the rotatable means in its stepped relation, operative connection between the last-mentioned means and the rod, an operative connection between the lever and rod so that when the second-mentioned end of the lever is raised, said holding means will be raised to free the rotatable means for return movement by the spring, means on the rotatable means and engageable with the retaining means for the lever for releasing the lever from said retaining means when said rotatable means has been revolved through a predetermined angle, means locking the operating element against actuation, and means operated by the lever for releasing the locking means when said lever is lowered.

3. A coin-operated mechanism for a vending machine provided with an actuating element to release articles comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the frame, means on one end of the lever tending to raise the other end of the lever, means directing a coin onto the second-mentioned end of the lever to cause lowering of said end of the lever, means locking the element against movement, means operated by the lever for releasing the locking means when said lever is lowered, a swingable latch, cooperating means on the latch and lever for retaining the lever in lowered position and the locking means in an inoperative position, a rotatable means, means operated by the actuating element for advancing the rotatable means step-by-step, means carried by the rotatablemeans and engageable with the swingable latch for moving said latch out of operative relation with the lever for causing release of said lever after said rotatable means has been revolved through a predetermined angle, means operated by the actuating element for causing the rotation of the rotatable element step-by-step, means for holding the rotatable means against return movement when said rotatable means "is being revolved through a predetermined degree, .a spring for returning the rotatable means to an inoperative :position, and means connecting the holding means with the lever so that when the lever is moved :to an inoperative position, said holding means will be moved out of engagement with the rotatable means.

4. A coin-operated mechanism for a vending machine provided with an actuating element to release articles comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the frame, means on one end of the lever tending to raise the other end oi-said lever, a chute directing a coin onto thesecond-mentioned end of the lever to cause lowering of said end of said lever, said chute having an opening, an arm pivoted at one end and having its opposite free end projecting into the opening to prevent a second coin from being dropped on to the second-mentioned end of the lever, means for locking the lever against return movement after the second-mentioned end of said lever has been lowered, said arm having a lateral finger, a pivotally mounted reciprocating rod, means operated by the actuating element for causing reciprocation of the rod, a toothed wheel rotatably mounted adjacent the rod, means on the rod engageable with the toothed wheel when said rod is reciprocated in .one direction for rotating the'wheel'step-bystep, means connecting the rod with the secondmentioned end of the lever so that whensaid end of the lever is raised or lowered the pivoted rod will also be raised for moving the last-mentioned means on the rod out of or into engagement with the teeth of the wheel, means on the toothed wheel and engageable with the locking means for the lever for releasing the locking means after the wheel has been rotated a predetermined number of steps, a pin on the wheel adapted to move the .finger at the end of the stepped rotation of the wheel for moving the arm to an inoperative position, a spring returning the wheel to an inoperative position after the locking means has been released, means for retaining the wheel against rotation by the spring, and means connecting the last-mentioned means with the reciprocating rod for raising the retaining means out of operative relation with the toothed wheel when said rod is raised by the lever, means connecting the reciprocating rod with the lever so that when the coin-engaging end of the lever is raised, the rod will be raised, a second finger on the arm adapted to be engaged by the rod for retaining the arm in its inoperative position.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS. 

